Science and Technology:
¶ Teenager Sara Volz built an efficient algae-based biofuel lab under her bed. It won her a $100,000 four-year scholarship from the Science Talent Search. [ExtremeTech]
World:
¶ The German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg plans to install a further 1,000 wind turbines by 2020 to meet its renewable energy targets. [Utility Products]
¶ A refuelling problem at a nuclear reactor in New Brunswick could cost the utility $400,000 to $600,000 a day in replacement power. [Brandon Sun]
¶ The Japanese NRA is giving an exemption to the Ohi nuclear plant so it can continue running to the end of summer. Ohi is Japan’s only operating facility, but it is sitting on an active geological fault. [The Japan Daily Press]
¶ Power has been restored, and cooling systems for all spent fuel pools at Fukushima Daiichi are running once again. [The Associated Press]
¶ The Hinkley Point nuclear plant in Somerset has been given per mission for construction, but it is still very unclear whether work will ever begin because of economics. [Construction News]
¶ Former state nuclear physicist He Zuoxiu says China is heading for a nuclear accident if it continues with current construction plans, and it is highly probable that it will happen before 2030. [chinadialogue]
US:
¶ The US could cut fuel emissions from vehicles by 80% by 2050, according to a National Research Council report. [Los Angeles Times]
¶ The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities announced that New Jersey now has over 1000 MW of installed solar capacity. [The Sparta Independent]
¶ An attempt to kill the renewable energy standard in Kansas has failed. [Topeka Capital Journal]
¶ The NRC voted 3 to 2 to require improvements to the emergency vents at 31 American boiling water reactors. [New York Times]
¶ The NRC says a decision on a restart of a reactor at San Onofre, expected in April, will be delayed until May or June. [abc7.com]
geoharvey 